India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said “terrorism epicentres” can no longer remain immune from justifiable punishment, addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers’ meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Singh noted that the SCO represents a significant share of the world’s population and carries a responsibility to ensure peace and stability in the region and beyond. He called for continued dialogue and diplomacy, warning against allowing the era to slip into violence and war.
He urged member states not to lose focus on cross-border terrorism that targets a nation’s sovereignty, stressing that terrorism has no nationality or religion. The SCO, he said, should act as a guardian of international norms, and members must abandon “double standards” in their approach to global terrorism.
Referring to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Singh said the incident shocked not just a region but humanity as a whole. He said India’s resolve that terror hubs will not escape justifiable punishment was demonstrated through “Operation Sindoor”, and reiterated India’s determination to act firmly against those who provide safe havens and enable terrorism.
The SCO, formed in 2001, includes India, Russia, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. India became a full member in 2017.
